Spice box



mman? (No Model.)

A. W. CRAM.

SPICE B OX..

No. 355,255. Patented Deo. 28, 1886.

SM/EESEE.

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selec-Box.

GFECIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,255, dated December 28.41886.

Application inea May 24,1886. serial N5. eoapuu. (No modera Taall whom it may concern:

v Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State of one of the holes of the covers,

Massachusetts, have invented certain new and Y useful Improvements in Combined Salt and Pepper Boxes; a}1d I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as` will enable others skilled in the artto which it pertains .to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which formspart of of this specification.4

My invention relates to an improvement in combined salt and pepper boxes; and it consists in, first, a salt or pepper box provided with a perforated cover, lin combination with a series of valves, which are placed in. each and which both serve to keep the salt or pepper agitated while the box is being shaken and to close the open.- ings when the box is not in use; second, a combined salt and pepper box which is provided witha ilange at each ol' its ends, and .which projects beyond the cover, so as to form abase upon which the box is to rest, no matter which end is up; third, the combination,'in a salt or pepper box having a perforated cover, of a. series of valves which are passed through the holes or openings in the cover, and which are united together at their inner endsin any suitable manner, so as to canse them to thoroughly loosen the salt or pepper while the box is being shaken.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined salt and pepper box' with a series of valves, which are passed through the openings in its covers for the purpose of keeping the salt o r pepper thoroughlystirred-upwhile the box is being shaken, to keep the holes open, and to close the openings when the box is not in use, in order to retain the strength of the article, and to provide a combined salt and pepper box which'is provided with" anges upon its ends, so that either end of the box can be turned upward. A The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of a combined salt and pepper box embodying my invention.

Arepresents t-he body of a combined Salt and pepper box, and which is provided with a partition, B, at its center. This partition serves todivide the salt and pepper compartments slightly beyond the cover D, base to support the box,no matter which end is vof the box, so when At each end of the body A C, which extends so as to form a from each other. is formed a projecting flange,

turned upward. A dange is formed upon each end, so that either end of the` box may be.'

turned either up or down, as

may be-most convenient. The covers of each of the'co'mpart- 6o i ments are provided with perforations in the usual manner, and through each perforation is passed a valve, G, both ends of which are enlarged sniiiciently to form Stoppers for the holes through which they are passed. These' lvalves may be connected together attheir lower ends by a cord, wire, or chain, l, so as .to more thoroughly separate and divide the salt and pepper while the box is being'shaken; but lit is not necessary. to connect them together. The stems of these valves are considerably smaller than the holes through which they pass, so as to offer aslittle obstruction as possible to the passage of the salt or pepper. These valves are enlarged at each'rtheir ends, so as to formstoppers forvthe holes, no matter which end of the box is turned upward. "When the box is set upon end, those valves through the top cover sink downward, so as to cl'ose the openingsvagainst the passage of moisture from the atmosphere while those valves in the lower cover sink down and close the openings, so as to prevent any ol the salt or pepper from falling ont.

By the construction here shown a combined salt and pepper box is produced which is adapted to .have either compartment turned upward, as may be most convenient. 'Upon the covers maybe marked in any suitable manner the contents vof that compartment, and thus mistakes need-never be made.

It is not necessary be connected at theirlower ends, for they may be made entirely separate and'independent of each other; but-one of the Valves should be placed in every one of the holes in the covers that end of the box happens' to be turned'downward none of its contents will be spilled out. These valves are adapted to be usedv in salt and pepper boxes, whether theboxis made double,as here shown, or not. ln case the box is made single, and used for either pepper'oi salt alone, the valves will act in the same manner.

IOO

,. Having thus described my invention, I

'5, hclaim p 1. A combined salt and pepper box divided by a .partition into two chambers andhaving 5 a'ange formed upon each of its ends, and which flange serves as a base to support the '/.box in position, no matter which end of the -box is turned upward, substantially as shown.

' 2'. The combination of a perforated cover ixo for a salt and pepperA box'with a series of i double-ended valves, which are passed through l i b'th as Stoppers for the openings and to agitate the sait or pepper, substantially as de- 15- scribed.

the openings of thel cover, and'which serveended and connected together at their inner 2o ends, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in preseneeof two witnesses.

ALONZO W. CRAM.

W'itness-es: Y

HARRY J. Conn, ALBERT L. BA'RTLETT. 

